Looking Right

Mixed Media 1996

Roundabout at Junction of Coatbank Street and Tennant Street, Coatbridge

The elements and materials from which "Looking Right" is made belong to the world of traffic. Collectively, the lamp posts, lights and crenellated bases are intended to form a reference to the Tower of Flames in Coatbrridge's coat of arms. There is also a reference to the idea of a 'sentinel' or guard. The artist said she imagined the circle of lamps as a group of modern day 'sentinels' "watching over the motorists" at the entrance to the town.

Martine Neddam's interest in the use of language is demonstrated by the use of text in the artwork. Whilst the phrase "Looking Right" suggests an instruction to motorists, the words themselves face each other as mirror images, suggesting that there is more that one way of looking right.

"Looking Right" is part of the Sentinel Art Project.

Parking for this artwork can be found at Faraday Retail Park, off Coatbank Street.